The label is the law. Read your product's label before you mix or apply; the rates here come from the labels listed under Sources.
- Active ingredient
- Oil of lemon eucalyptus (refined; about 65% p-menthane-3,8-diol) (CAS none: a mixture with no single CAS number)
- Chemical class
- Plant-derived repellent from the leaves of the lemon eucalyptus tree; the 30% product contains approximately 65% p-menthane-3,8-diol in its active ingredient.[2]
- Mode of action
- Repellent: deters mosquitoes and ticks from biting; it has no IRAC insecticide group[1][2]
- Signal word
- Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent (Repel Insect Repellent 30 LE): Warning[2]
Not for children under 3
The label says not to use it on children under the age of three years, not to let children apply it themselves, and not to apply it to children's hands.[2]
How to apply it
Spread it evenly by hand over exposed skin; do not spray it directly on the face, but put it on your palm and spread it on face and neck. Reapply once as needed and do not apply more than twice per day.[2]
Do not apply it over cuts, wounds or irritated skin, and wash it off exposed skin after returning indoors.[2]
Where it is used
The label directs applying it to exposed skin and clothing to repel mosquitoes and ticks; the marketing text on the label claims mosquito protection for up to six hours.[2]
OLE is one of the active ingredients in EPA-registered skin-applied repellents, alongside DEET, picaridin and IR3535.[1]
Products and registrations
| Product | Registrant | EPA Reg. No. | Active % | Formulation | Signal word |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent (Repel Insect Repellent 30 LE)[2] | WPC Brands / Spectrum Brands | 305-62 | 30.0% | aerosol and pump spray | Warning |
How to apply it, step by step
1. Protective gear
- No gear is needed: it goes on skin and clothing. It carries a WARNING because it can cause substantial but temporary eye injury and is harmful if swallowed, so keep it out of your eyes and wash your hands with soap and water after applying it.[2]
2. Before you spray
- Don't use it on children under three years old; older children shouldn't apply it themselves, and it shouldn't go on their hands.[2]
- Don't apply it over cuts, wounds or irritated skin.[2]
- It is combustible: don't use or store it near heat or open flame.[2]
3. Mixing
- No mixing: it is applied straight from the container.[2]
4. Applying
- Apply it to exposed skin and clothing, spreading it evenly with your hand to moisten all exposed skin.[2]
- Don't spray it on your face: put some in your palm and spread it on your face and neck.[2]
- Reapply once if needed, and don't apply it more than twice a day; the label claims up to 6 hours of mosquito repellency.[2]
5. After you spray
- When you come back indoors, wash it off all exposed skin.[2]
- It may cause skin reactions in some people: stop using it if irritation or a rash appears.[2]
First aid
- In the eyes, hold them open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15 to 20 minutes, removing contact lenses after the first 5 minutes, and call a poison control center or doctor.[2]
- If swallowed, call a poison control center or doctor right away, have the person sip a glass of water if they can swallow, and don't induce vomiting unless told to; the label's emergency number is 1-800-332-5553.[2]
Storage, spills and disposal
- Store it in a cool, dry place out of children's reach; don't puncture or burn the pressurized (bag-on-valve) version, which can burst above 130°F.[2]
- Put an empty container in the trash or recycling; for a partly full one, call your local solid waste agency, and never pour it down a drain.[2]
From the safety data sheet
- This sheet covers the bag-on-valve spray sold under the same EPA registration; the liquid is clear and yellow with a lemon eucalyptus odor.[3]
- The SDS uses the signal word Warning: the spray is a flammable aerosol, the can may explode if heated, and it causes serious eye irritation.[3]
- If it gets in the eyes, flush them with water for 15 to 20 minutes, removing contact lenses after the first 5 minutes, and call a poison control center or doctor.[3]
- If swallowed, call a poison control center or doctor right away and have the person sip a glass of water if able; don't induce vomiting unless told to.[3]
- Keep the can away from heat, sparks and open flames, protect it from sunlight, and don't store it above 122 °F (50 °C).[3]
Safety and environmental hazards
People
The label signal word is WARNING: it causes substantial but temporary eye injury and is harmful if swallowed; it may cause skin reactions in some people, so stop using it if irritation or rash appears.[2]
Pets
The label's hazard statements cover people and domestic animals together and its directions are for human skin and clothing only; keep it away from pets.[2]
Bees and pollinators
OLE is applied to skin and clothing, and this label carries no bee-hazard statement.[2]
Fish and water
This repellent label carries no aquatic-toxicity statement; it says never to put unused product down any drain.[2]
Common questions
- Can I use oil of lemon eucalyptus on a toddler?
- Not under age 3. The product label says not to use it on children under the age of three years.[2]
- Is OLE the same as PMD?
- Not exactly. Oil of lemon eucalyptus contains PMD, but EPA regulates it as a separate pesticide chemical from synthetic PMD products.[1]
- How often can I reapply it?
- The label says to reapply once as needed and not to apply more than twice per day.[2]
Sources
- U.S. EPA, “Skin-applied Repellent Ingredients.” www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/skin-applied-repellent-ingredients (accessed 2026-10-06)
- U.S. EPA Pesticide Product Label System, “Repel Insect Repellent 30 LE label, EPA Reg. No. 305-62 (EPA-stamped, Jan. 15, 2025).” www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/ppls/000305-00062-20250115.pdf (accessed 2026-10-06)
- WPC Brands, Inc. (Spectrum Brands), “Repel Plant-Based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent2 (BOV) Safety Data Sheet (WPC Brands, February 13, 2020; EPA Reg. No. 305-62, the label on this page; copy hosted on The Home Depot's product-document server).” images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/4c/4c9299e6-4299-4c65-bdf6-bf1b58a9fbd5.pdf (accessed 2026-10-17)